January "Give": The Thomas Family

Sorry it's already a week into January, but here is our January Give Family!  I'm so thankful for Chris and Angie sharing their heart and family's adoption process with us.

Here is their story...
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No one ever told me adoption was a battle, a war, a direct attack on Satan and his plans to steal, kill and destroy.  I will admit when we started our adoption journey I was naïve and idealistic.  Submit paperwork, save and fund-raise (lots of) money and God brings a beautiful child in need into your family.  This is the point where I hang my head and let out a big sigh over my own ignorance.:)

 

Four and a half years later I can tell you God cares desperately for the fatherless and my naivety has been replaced by heart wounds and a deeper appreciation for the battle that ensues when we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Adoption is a symbolic, earthly display of all that happens in the spiritual realm when we become followers of Christ.  We are rescued from our sins, purchased by His blood and brought into His family and given a new identity as His sons and daughters.  Adoption is the gospel displayed and it is beautiful…but Satan despises and opposes it in every way possible. 

 

My husband, Chris, and I first started the adoption process and submitted our application for international adoption in Ethiopia in the summer of 2010.  Our two spunky and crazy biological boys were three and almost two at the time.  We had spent time in Ethiopia and Kenya on short-term mission trips in 2003 and 2006 and sensed God’s clear leading to adopt from Ethiopia.  From the very beginning it seemed every step of the process was contested.  The first six months of our paperwork chase felt like we were walking in mud…lost documents and unexpected twists.  We finally finished our initial paperwork only to find out things in Ethiopia were changing and the wait times for being matched with a child quickly went from six months to twenty-four months. 

 

We continued to cry out to Him, asking for direction and considering if we should switch countries or agencies.  His answer, confirmed through much prayer and petition, was simply, "Stay and Wait." These words were almost crushing as we considered the wait ahead but we desperately wanted to be obedient and desired His highest and best. 

 

So…we waited (not always patiently, I might add) and in March 2013 we got the call from our agency which we had been waiting and praying for almost three years.  Our agency had a beautiful three-year-old little girl they wanted to place with our family.  One month later we discovered we were unexpectedly pregnant.  We were overjoyed at God's gift of another biological child but concerned about how this would affect our adoption.  We knew our agency had a very strict policy about pregnancy and not allowing families to proceed with adoption.  After months of tears and praying and pleading with God and our agency we found out we would not be able to continue with our adoption.   

On December 5th of 2013 we welcomed our third, precious, biological son into our family.  In July of 2014, we found out we were once again first on the list to be matched with a child.  Around the same time we learned that things in regard to international adoption had taken another downward turn in Ethiopia.  A "temporary" hold has been placed on adoption referrals at the orphanage our agency partners with by the regional Ethiopian government.  It has now been almost six months and nothing has changed.  Over Christmas we were really discouraged...again...but God gently and lovingly reminded us to keep praying. He has burdened our hearts to intercede and pray for the children who are currently living in orphanages without families.  He has led us to pray fervently that the power of the enemy who desires to keep these children as orphans would be "shattered" (Exodus 15:6, Isaiah 9:4, Job 34:24).

I can honestly say that the trials and heartaches of our adoption journey have changed us.  We understand so much more about our God…and about ourselves.  Our hearts have been purged and sifted of self-sufficiency, control, and pride (and let's just say it hasn't been pretty).  These sin struggles often die slow, painful deaths...but the life and joy found in Christ on the other side of the struggle really are more valuable than gold.  Faith and a deep, abiding trust in our Savior have been forged through the fires of disappointment and broken dreams.

And this is what we have discovered about our God…He is Faithful and Strong and True.  He is a Warrior who fought for and redeemed our lives and is still engaged in battle for those who remain spiritually without a Father and physically without a forever family.  We would covet your continued prayers for the Lord to bring home the child He has sovereignly chosen for our family. Would you pray that we would trust our God, no matter the outcome? Would you also continue to lift up the people and country of Ethiopia in your prayers as well?  The country has been ravaged by drought, economic hardships as well as HIV/AIDS for many decades.  However, God is moving and is calling and equipping the Ethiopian Church to address the needs of the millions of orphans who still exist in the country.  This is the only sustainable hope for the orphan crisis in Ethiopia and we pray God would continue to strengthen His Church in Ethiopia to lead the way in caring for orphans and other vulnerable children.  May love and justice be administered in the name of Christ and may He be glorified.

 

Love in Christ,

Chris, Angie, Burke, Henry and Ned Thomas

 

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All of the profit from the January Give Scarf will go straight to the Thomas family to help fund their adoption process.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  This month's give scarf is shown below- super soft Black & White Striped/Polka Dot Infinity Scarf (while supplies last).

 

beach days

Vacation is going way too fast!!!!  Enjoying sweet time with ALL the Garcias...
Sorry for the lack of posts- be back soon :)
Oh and please be in prayer for my family.  They are in flight to Kenya right now (or maybe waiting in Amsterdam) for a week long mission trip.  Praying for the team's safety and for God to move in their hearts and the hearts of the people they come in contact with.

life in abundance

For Christmas, my dad gave us all something from Life in Abundance International: nativity, animal ornaments, etc.  all handmade by women in Nairobi, Kenya.  My family (wish we could go!) is traveling to Africa over the summer and will get to meet and serve some of the people who hand crafted these items.  To learn more about LIA visit their {website}

"LIFE IN ABUNDANCE INTERNATIONAL WORKS WITH SEVEN NATIONS OF AFRICA,
PARTNERING WITH CHURCHES FOR WHOLISTIC COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION."


And to purchase some of their hand crafted items or donate to this incredible ministry visit their website {here}
the banana leaf giraffe is my favorite:

Profaite Medeus

Profiate Medeus is a minister in Haiti.

He had the opportunity to study at CCU and learn more

about Preaching and the Bible so he could be better equipped 

 to return to his home and family in Haiti and spread the Gospel.

We met him a couple years ago and Profaite and Patrick

became good friends.  He returned to Haiti over a year

ago, ready to share Jesus with the lost in Haiti.

 Patrick has been in contact with him over the past two weeks

and Profaite emailed these pictures recently...

 

 I was amazed by these pictures 

building crumbled, homes destroyed

this next picture is of their church:

There were some cracks in the concrete and 

they were being careful to make sure the roof was stable

but overall I think it looks pretty good compared to the rest

There have been 3 deaths confirmed in their congregation but I imagine

it will be awhile until they know for sure how many they have lost.

This is part of what he said in the last email:

"First, please keep  praying for us. Secondly, Since many people, including our church members are in big needs, anything that can come down to Haiti, especially money, can help."

This past Sunday Profaite preached to a large crowd 

that gathered in the yard outside of the church.

I wish I could have been sitting on that white blanket 

next to that little boy, front row, hearing Profaite share a

message of true hope to a desperate and hurting crowd.

I'm sure most of you have already donated 

(maybe even some of you crafty ones to CraftHope on Etsy)

but here is some information if you are interested:

G.O. Ministries- donate $ on their website {here}

and select Haiti Relief Fund in the program box

100% of the money will go directly to Haiti relief

If you are in Louisville, {here} is the link where you can find

the list of urgent needs and location to drop items off

or {here} on Southeast Christian's website

We are waiting to hear back from Profaite Medeus

about an address in Haiti and what exactly would 

be the best items for his church to receive.

If you are interested in donating directly to Profaite and his church, 

let me know and I can try to get you his information when he sends it.

I'm sure you all feel the same way, but I feel like I can't do enough 

for these people in Haiti.  I want to get on the next plane

embrace every orphan, offer clean water, 

and fill every aching stomach with a warm meal

but unfortunately that is not possible.

I have needed to remind myself of the amazing power of prayer

prayer for those who need food, those who need rescue,

those who need strength to continue helping others,

those who need a family, a friend

and while all of those people need our prayers

all that really matters are those people who need the ultimate Savior.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord

may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it is with you.

Psalm 33:20-22

We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.

havana, cuba

This time last year, Patrick and I were packing our bags for a mission trip to Havana, Cuba.

We joined the Master's Men Choir from our home church.

(don't worry we did not sing with them*)

They have traveled to Cuba many times- each time singing in concerts

all over the city and serving at the Church in Havana.

We were so blessed to serve alongside of these men

and witness their incredible voices filling gorgeous cathedrals:

(I cried through every song... It was amazing to worship and hear the gospel 

spread to the community through songs in their own language.)

At times, it did not feel like a mission trip because we were guests

at these concerts and able to sightsee throughout the week...

I miss these girls!  They were so sweet and on fire for the Lord!! 

They are in the National Cuban Choir and 

are so bold in sharing Christ with the choir.

The few of us ladies on the trip served at a women's conference in the Church.

We painted nails, laughed at broken translations, and cried through powerful testimonies.

The ladies welcomed us into their homes, offered way to much coffee :) 

and impacted my life in ways they will never know.

 I do have to admit that my favorite moments were with the children...

blowing bubbles, trying to "Simon says" in Spanish :) 

singing crazy songs and making crafts about the days of creation

 

My father-in-law is about to leave for a trip to Cuba.

We wish we could have gone so bad, but are trying to plan when we can go back.

Please be in prayer for their safety and that the Lord would 

continue to work through the churches scattered throughout Cuba.